Page:The Poetical Works of Thomas Parnell (1833).djvu/32

xvi And let the Syracusan shepherd sleep Where through cool grots the glancing waters leap! Now wake the harp that Chios loved to hear In his lone caves, (no doubtful legend fear) When Time himself was young—by Meles' stream An old blind man was sitting; while a gleam (It was Apollo's) lit his cheek, and young And old around in mute attention hung; Ionian girls were with him as he sung, Each with her lover, and with lips apart All stood, and breathless, and with beating heart. Gods! 'twas a witching tale!—of heaven-built Troy And bright-hair'd Helen, and the shepherd boy From Ida's shores, and how the billowy tide For her he crost, and beckoning to the bride, 'Come to green Ida's pines, my couch is there' he cried.
 * Beautiful Helen! by thy shepherd's cave

Ah! wilt thou dream with me of Simois' fairer wave? And leaning on thy lover's bosom say, While round thy feet its sparkling waters play, "For ever, gentle stream, ah! here for ever stray." Then did the minstrels of the house lament, As from her bower the queen of beauty went, Went, gliding with soft footstep, and unseen, Fled with her lover o'er the ocean green. And he who home returning, in his gate Found sorrow, and a hearth all desolate;